Affiliated High School of Peking University

The school was established in 1960, with roots in Beijing No. 104 Secondary School. The reforms attracted sustained attention in Chinese media and were widely discussed as one of the most visible secondary-school reform experiments of the 2010s. An educational statement associated with the Wang period described the school’s aim as cultivating “outstanding citizens” (). The corresponding English statement reads: “The Affiliated High School of Peking University is committed to developing unique, confident and responsible citizens with creative ideas and strong leadership. Wherever they are, they all are dedicated to serving the community, respecting nature and caring for others.” In 2017, the BDFZ Education Group was established. In 2022, the former BDFZ Experimental School was incorporated into the public school operated by Peking University and ceased to exist as a separate school name. Since March 2022, the principal has been Ma Yuguo, a chemist and professor in Peking University's College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering. == Administration ==

BDFZ is administered as a public school. Since 16 March 2022, the principal has been Ma Yuguo, a chemist and professor who previously served as dean of Peking University's College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering. The school is also part of the BDFZ Education Group, which includes affiliated and partner schools in Fengtai, Haikou, Shijingshan, Putian, and Shenzhen. == Campus ==

The campus is in northwestern Haidian, in an academic district closely associated with Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhongguancun, and institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This setting has long shaped the school's identity as a university-affiliated secondary school within one of Beijing's principal education and research clusters. The west teaching building opened in 2002, the school library became a branch of the Peking University Library in 2009, and the Xinjian Gymnasium was completed in 2016. == Academic structure ==

The senior secondary division is organized around six academies and a preparatory division. Xingzhi Academy follows the standard national curriculum, while Yuanpei Academy and Boya Academy function as the school's principal extension tracks in advanced science and the humanities respectively. The school also operates Weiming Academy, Shuren Academy, Dalton Academy, and a Preparatory Division. == Faculty ==

The founding faculty included 43 young assistants and lecturers transferred from departments of Peking University. == Student life ==

Student life is organized through academies, houses, student associations, and competitions. The house system combines features associated with Western house models and the Chinese academy tradition. House life forms a visible part of everyday campus culture, with activities spanning orientation, clubs, arts, athletics, technology, and house-based events. == Public attention ==

In May 2021, a short video titled A Day at the Affiliated High School of Peking University circulated widely on Chinese social media and trended on Weibo. By foregrounding an 8 a.m. start time, elective-style classes, and activities such as fencing and drama, the clip became a flashpoint in a broader online debate about educational inequality, elite schooling, and social privilege in China. The discussion extended beyond the school itself and was folded into wider criticism of unequal access to educational resources in Beijing, especially the concentration of elite institutions in Haidian. Later reports said the footage had originally been filmed during a campus open day, though reposted versions continued to circulate after the original video was deleted. == University placement ==

BDFZ is known for strong university placement in both the domestic and overseas tracks. In 2023, the school recorded 35 combined admissions to Peking University and Tsinghua University. In 2024, more than half of graduates entered 985 universities, while around three-quarters entered 211 universities. For overseas study, Dalton Academy serves as the school's international division. Its graduates have matriculated at institutions including Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Duke, NYU, USC, the University of California system, and University of Washington, as well as liberal arts colleges such as Middlebury, Kenyon, and Wesleyan, together with universities in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, France, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. == Notable alumni ==

• Zhang Zilin, model, actress, and Miss World 2007. • Xu Bing, artist and former vice president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. • Chen Xiaonan, television host and journalist. • Wang Jisi, scholar of international relations and former dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University. • Mao Xinyu, military officer and grandson of Mao Zedong. == References ==